Not so Shocking: Detroit forces Game 5 with Sacramento

Detroit staved off elimination to force a Game 5, which returns to Detroit on Saturday.

Cheryl Ford was the only other Detroit player in double-figures with 13 points as the Shock outshot Sacramento from the floor, 43.5 percent to 31.7. Ford also grabbed 10 rebounds.

Nicole Powell had 13 points and Yolanda Griffith added 10 points and 11 rebounds for the Monarchs, who had won their previous 11 home playoff contests.

Sacramento led 26-22 after the first quarter, but the Shock answered by outscoring the Monarch’s 21-11 in the second frame.

Kara Braxton’s jumper early in the second tied the game at 28-28 and after Powell’s conversion from the floor put the Monarchs back up, Smith drilled a three-pointer with 5:54 to go in the second to give Detroit a 31-30 lead.

Ford then connected on a layup and Smith nailed another three-point shot to extend the Shocks’ edge to 36-30. Smith capped the first half’s scoring with a pair of free throws that sent Detroit into the break with a 43-37 advantage.

The Shock grabbed an 11-point lead with 7:01 to go in the third on a Cash layup, but Sacramento responded with seven straight points to cut it 52-48 and the Shock led by just 56-50 heading into the third.

Detroit, though, netted the first five points of the fourth and outscored Sacramento 16-2 in the final frame to cruise to the victory.

Griffith accounted for Sacramento’s only basket of the frame on a hook shot with 7:46 remaining as Detroit ended the game on an 11-0 burst.